Register device for game apparatus



OCt. 13, 1936. F L MlLLS 2,057,651

REGISTER DEVICE FOR GAME APPARATUS Filed June 4, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

*Q @www Oct. 13, 1936.

F. MILLS 2,057,651

REGISTER DEVICE FOR GAME APPARATUS Filed June 4, 1955 5 SheetS-Sheel 2oct. 13,1936.

F. 1 MILLS Filed June 4, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 oct. 13, 1936. F, MlLLS2,057,651

REGISTER DEVICE FOR GAME APPARATUS Filed June 4, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4@et 13, 1936. F. L. MILLS 2,057,651

REGISTER DEVICE FOR GAME APPARATUS Filed June 4, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5@f [LOM Patented Oct. 13, 1936 unirse stares REGISTER DEVICE FOR GAMEvAPPARATUS Fred L. Mills, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Mills NoveltyCompany, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Y Application June 4,1935, Serial No. `24,897

9 Claims.

` This 'invention relates togame apparatus and more particularly toapparatus of this type in which a free play mechanism is provided whichoperates4 under certain conditions to allow free playfof` the gameoperating mechanism which isv normally coin-controlled. y rIn UnitedStates Patent No. 1,912,992 issued to'mefunder date of June 6, 1933 Ihave shown and described a spinning reel type of coin-con. trolled gamein which a free play mechanism is provided which operates to allow theoperator a number of free plays which are determined according totheposition of rest of the reels. In the embodiment of this mechanismshown in said patent the free plays are racked up on a movable controlelement consisting of a wheel which is displaced, through mechanismcontrolled by the reels, from a normal starting or zero position, theextent of displacement of the wheel from the starting positiondetermining the number of free plays allowed. If desired, such freeplays may be used to indicate a score attained by the operator in theplay of the game. This may be accomplished by providing on the peripheryof the free play control wheel a scale which is numbered` to indicateeither the free plays themselves or a score based on such plays, itbeing understood that a portion .of this scale is exposed to the View ofthe operator.

In operating aV game apparatus of the type just described, after anumber of plays, the operator may have obtained a certain number of freeplays to his credit as represented by the displacement of the controlwheel from its starting position. If the operator then wishes to leavethe machine, his free plays remaining unused, or the score he has madebased upon such plays, are noted by the proprietor, who then resets thefree play control wheel to the starting position for the next operator.In this resetting operation the free plays, or score represented by suchplays, are cancelled and it is therefore desirable to provide means forgiving the proprietor a permarient` record of the net results of theoperation of the free play mechanism.

The object of my invention is to provide a registerwhich operates inconjunction with a free play ,'meohanism'of the type described to recordtheV net results of the operation thereof over a given period bytotalling all free plays which remain unused'by successive operators ofthe apparatus.

' With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will more fullyappear as Athe description proceeds, the inventonresides in thelcoriilliirla-l tion and arrangement of parts and in the features ofAconstruction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood thatVarious changes inthe embodiment of theinvention herein disclosed may bemade within the scope of what is claimed and without departing from thespirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a coin-controlled game apparatus providedwith mechanism for awarding free plays and having the improved registerembodied therein;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation View of the apparatus showing the relation ofthe register to the free play mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the apparatus taken on line 3 3 ofFig. l;

Fig. 4 is a Vertical section showing a portion of the free playmechanism, the section being taken on line 4-4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a detail section through the register device, the View beingtaken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, a portion of the manually operated shaftwhich is carried in the casing of the machine being also shown in itsoperative relation to the register;

Fig. 6 is a detail section snowing the gear drive connection for theregister, the View being taken as indicated by line 6-5 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a detail section through the register, the section being takenas indicated by line 'I-l of Fig. 5.

The coin-controlled game apparatus illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings is shown and described in detail in my Patent No. 1,912,992, towhich I have hereinbefore referred. Since the present invention relatesonly to a novel form of register which is adapted for use with such agame apparatus to record the number of unused free plays, or a scoringequivalent thereof, I shall describe the game apparatus proper only insucient detail to illustrate the mode of operation of the register.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, threelegend-displaying reels 1, 8 and 9 are mounted for free rotation on amain reel shaft I I, the hub portions of the reels consisting of sleeveswhich are provided, respectively, with star wheels I2, I3 and |12. Theopposite ends of said sleeves are provided, respectively, with ratchetdiscs I5, I6 and I'I. Each reel, together with its corresponding starwheel and ratchet disc, is thus mounted for independent rotation onshaft II. The peripheral face of each reel is provided with alegend-bearing strip which may be viewed through a transparent panelmounted in the casing (not shown) which encloses the apparatus.

Reels 1, 8, and 9 are adapted to be spun by a manually operatedcoin-controlled mechanism which includes means for bringing the reels torest so as to display various combinations of these legends. Themechanism for spinning the reels is best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A coinof proper denomination is first inserted in a coin chute I 8, afterwhich an operating handle (not shown) mounted externally on the casing,is pulled downwardly, said handle engaging a later? ally projecting lugI9, which is carried on the forward end of a lever 2|, the latter beingpivoted at 22 to the frame and normally held in raised position by aheavy coil spring 23 connected at one end to said lever and at theopposite end to the frame. A coin-controlled latch mechanism consistingof a vertically disposed lock bar 24, pivoted to the frame at 25, and acoin-trip lever 26, prevents lowering of thelever 2I through a fullstroke unless a proper coin has rst been inserted in coin chute I8. Thelower end of lever 26 carries a pin 21 which moves in a slot 28 formedin the upper end of bar 24. The upper end of said lever 26 carries aforwardly projecting rod 29 (Fig. 1) which extends into the coin chuteI8. When the actuating arm is pulled downwardly by the operator to lowerlever 2l, a coin inserted in coin chute I8 is pulled downwardly thereinby a vertically disposed draw bar 3i, which is pivotally connected at 32(Fig. 2) to a spring held lever 3, said lever 33 having a part (notshown) which extends into the coin chute to engage the top edge of thecoin. The lower end of draw bar 3I is provided with a slot 34 whichreceives a pin 35 carried by lever 2I. Springs 36 urge bar 3| downwardlyto hold it in yielding engagement with lever 2I. Draw bar 3l pulls acoin which has been placed in coin chute I3 downwardly to a pointopposite the end of rod 29 which is carried on the upper end of lockrlever 26. The coin prevents lever 26 from being pivoted by a spring 31,in a counter-clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 2, and lever 26 beingthus held serves to prevent movement of lock bar 24 in aclockwisedirection, viewing Fig. 2. Y When no coin is present in thecoin chute spring 31 pivots lever Y26 in a counter-clockwise direction,and this turning of lever 26 results in a corresponding clockwiseturning of bar 24 to bring a shoulder 33 formed thereon into the path ofa lug 39 which projects inwardly from lever 2|, this engagementpreventing the downward movement of lever 2| through all except the veryrst portion of its stroke.

Assuming that a` coin has been inserted and that lever 2l is free tomove downwardly through a full stroke, the spinning of reels 1, 8 and 9is effected through the turning of a main rock shaft 4I, this beingaccomplished through engagement of a dog 42, with an arm 43 which isrigidly secured to rock shaft 4I. The dog 42 is mounted for limitedpivotal movement on a rearwardly extending'arm 44 which forms anintegral part of lever 2I. This engagement of dog 42 with arm 43 turnsmain rock shaft 4I in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 2, againststrong spring tension under which said shaft is placed and as soon assaid dog 42 slips from arm 43, shaft' 4I turns in a counter-clockwisedirection with a quick snapping action.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, a bell crank lever 45, rigid onshaft4I, is provided with a forwardly extending arm 46 which has pivotal lconnection with a link 41, the latter being pivoted at its upper end toa second link 48, which in turn is pivoted at 49 to the frame. A pawlarm I of bell crank form is pivoted at 52 on link 48 and is provided atone end with a pawl 53 adapted to engage the teeth of ratchet discsI5-I1. The other end of pawl arm 5I carries a lug 54 which normallyrests against link 48, a spring 55 providing yielding connection betweenthese parts. When rock shaft 4I is actuated as hereinbefore explained,pawl arm 5I is raised to the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig.3 to engage the teeth of the ratchet discs and spins the reels as soonas dog 42 clears arm 43, this spinning of the reels being effected by aquick 'snapping action.

Continuing the reference to Fig. 3, ratchet discs I5-I1 are locked intheir normal position of rest by a latch arm 56 which is pivoted to theframe at 51, the upper end of said arm being urged downwardly againstsaid discs by a spring 58. The lower end of arm 56 rests on an apron 59which is pivoted on a cross rod 6I, said apron being provided with adownwardly projecting cam surface 62 which engages arm 45. When rockshaft 4Iv is turned to start rotation of the reels, latcharrn 56 ismoved to the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. When the rockshaft is returned to normal position latch arm 56 is brought back intoengagement with the ratchet discs in a `manner presently to be eX-plained.

The mechanism for stopping the reels to present various combinations oflegends is fully described in my prior Patent No. 1,912,992. I haveherein shown in Figs. 1-3 sufcient details of this mechanism to give anunderstanding of the manner in which this function is 'accomplished.Associated with each reel is a stop arm 63 which is pivoted at 64 to abell crank 65, the latter being mounted for pivotal movement on across-rod 66. Arm 63 is provided with a rearwardly extending bracket 61,the free end of which rests on a cam 68, the latter being rigidlysecured to rock shaft 4I. A coil spring 69, extending between bracket 61and the frame, urges arm 63 toward the star wheel on the reel hub. Itwill be apparent that when rock shaft 4I is turned in a clockwiseAdirection (viewing Fig. 3) during the wind-up or actuating stroke, cam68 will engage bracket 61 to pivot arm 63 in a counter-clockwisedirection to remove the upper end thereof from the star wheel on thereel hub. At the same timebell crank 65 has been moved downwardly witharm 63 by reason of the connection with the latter aorded by a lug 1Icarried on the upper end of said bell crank. Arm 63 is releasablyconnected to bell crank 65 by a link 12, one end of which is pivotallyconnected to bracket 61, the forward end portion thereof being notchedto engage a pin (not shown) carried by bell crank 65.

Arms 63 are held away from the position in which they engage the starwheels on the reel hubs during the Spinning'of the reels, and areprogressivelyy released to stop the reels, by a clock mechanism (notshown) which is fully described in my said prior Patent 1,912,992.Figsfl and 3 show a sufficient portion of this mechanism to give anunderstanding of the mode of operation thereof. When rock shaft 4I isturned to start the spinning of the reels, an arm (not shown)` on saidshaft engages a bell crank 13, pivoting the latter in acounter-clockwise direction viewing Fig. 1, against .the tension of acoil spring 14 extending between crank 13 and the frame. This rotationof crank 13 winds up a clock mechanism V(not shown) and moves a clockarm 15 forwardly to a position where forwardly projecting arms (notshown) on said clock arm extend below rearwardly projecting arms (notshown) which form a part of bell cranks 65, it being remembered thatthese bell crank arms have been raised during this operation by movementof stop arms 63 from engagement with the star wheels on the reel hubs.By reason of this engagement between the projections on clock arm 15,andthe lower ends of bell cranks 65, stop arms 63 are held free from thestar wheels to allow the wheels. to spin. As clock arm 15 returns fromits forward position under the action of spring 14, the lower ends ofbell cranks 65 fall from the forwardly extending projections on clockarm 15, thereby allowing stop arms 63 to engage the star wheels |2-I4 tobring the reels to rest. As will more fully appear from the description.given in my prior Patent 1,912,992, the forwardly extending projectionson clock arm 15, which engage the lower end portions of the bell cranks65, differ in length. By reason of this construction the bell crank armsdrop from the clock arm projections at different times so as to bringthe reels to rest in different relative positions.

In the particular form of apparatus shown, manually operable means isprovided for permitting the operator to bring reels 1 9 to rest inadvance of the positions at which the reels would be automaticallystopped by the falling of the lower ends of bell cranks 65 from theprojections on clock arm 15. This mechanically operated stop means,which is duplicated for each reel, comprisesz a lever 16, pivoted at 11to the frame, and a link 18 connecting the free end of lever 16 with theforward end of link 12. The forward end of lever 16 carries a lateralprojection 19 which is adapted to be engaged by a spring pressed buttonplunger (not shown) which is mounted in the top wall of the casing. Bydepressing said spring pressed button against projection 19 link 12 ismoved clear of the stud (not shown) by which said link holds arm 63 inengagement with bell crank 65. Arm 63 is then free to move intoobstructive engagement with the star wheel on the reel hub so that thereel may be stopped before it would normally be brought to rest by thefalling of the lower end of bell crank 65 from the projection on clockarm 15. In this manner the operator may exercise skill in stopping thereels.

, VMechanism is provided for allowing free plays to the operator inaccordance with the positions of rest to which the reels are brought.The register which forms the subject matter of the present invention isassociated with this free play mechanism, and in order to explain theoperation of the register it will first be necessary to describe thefree play portion of the apparatus. A detailed description of this freeplay mechanism is given in my prior Patent No. 1,912,992, and I shalltherefore here describe this mechanism-only in sucient detail to give anunderstanding of its relation to the novel register device.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, mounted in a box shaped housing8| (Fig. 2) is a stack of horizontally disposed slides 82-81, the rearends of which engage, respectively, the forward ends of a correspondingseries of locking levers 88-93, said slides being urged rearwardlyagainst said levers by coil springs 94. Locking levers 88-93 are pivotedintermediate their ends on a shaft (not shown) and are yieldingly heldin locking engagement with the slides by coil springs 95. Slides 82--81are selectively released by levers 88-93 in accordance with thepositions of rest assumed by the reels. This is effected by a series oflocking dogs Sii-|00, said dogs being pivoted intermediate their ends onthe frame and having on their upper ends horizontally disposed fingers|0| (Fig. 1), the free ends of which normally rest against outer ratchetdisc l5. As shown in Fig. 3, discs |5|1 are provided with perforations|02, into which fingers |0| are urged by springs `|03 (Fig. 1) when thereels assume such positions as will bring the perforations intoregistration with said fingers. The lower ends of locking dogs 96|00 arenotched (not shown) to permit of the selective releasing of levers88--93, this arrangement being such that dog 96 releases the lowermostlever 88 when the positions of the reels are such as to permit the upperend of said dog to enter perforations in the two outer discs I5 and I6.When the upper end of said dog 96 enters perforations in all three discs|5, I6 and I1, it releases the two lower levers 88 and 89. The fourremaining dogs 91-100 are each arranged to respectively release levers-93. It is evident, therefore, that retraction of slides 82-81 is thuscontrolled in accordance with the positions of rest of the reels, theconstruction being such that when one particular slide of the stack isretracted all of the slides positioned below that particular one willalso be retracted.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, slides 82-81 are returned to theiradvanced position, preparatory to spinning of the reels, by an arm |04carried by rock shaft 4| and provided at its lower end with a lug |05which engages a bracket |06 projecting upwardly from a horizontallydisposed slide return bar |01. The forward end of bar |01 engages anupturned arm |08 carried by the lowermost slide 82. When rock shaft 4|is turned to spin the reels, bar |01 is shoved forwardly by arm |04 toreturn such of the slides as have been retracted in the previous play totheir normally advanced position where they are locked by levers 88-93.

Continuing the reference to Fig. 3, locking .dogs Sii-|00 are held innon-obstructing position relative to ratchet discs |5|1 by a rest |08which is carried by apron 59. When rock shaft 4| is turned to startspinning of the reels arm 45 pivots apron 59 upwardly to move rest |08against locking dogs 96-|00, the latter being thus withdrawn fromratchet discs |5-I1. Rest |08 is released by the clock mechanism (notshown) to permit the locking dogs to fall against ratchet discs |5-|1.To accomplish this function a vertically disposed rod |09 is providedwhich is connected at its upper end to a laterally extending bracketcarried by apron 50. When said apron is raised rod |09 is likewiseraised to rest at its lower end on a lever ||2 (Fig. 1) said lever ||2engaging bell crank 13, being yieldingly held in engagement therewith bya coil spring 3. When rock shaft 4| is actuated bell crank 13 is pivotedin a counter-clockwise direction, viewing Fig. l, thereby allowing leverH2 to be moved below rod |09, which during this interval has been raisedso that its lower end will clear said lever. As bell crank 13 returns tonormal position under the control of the clock mechanism (not shown)lever 2 is gradually moved until it clears the lower end of rod I 09whereupon it falls under its own weight and moves rest |08 clear oflocking dogs B65-|00, the latter being then free to fall into theperforations in ratchet discs |5|1 to stop the reels.

Means is provided for allowing free play of the aforedescribedcoin-controlled operating mechanism, said means. being controlled byslides 82-81. Referringparticularlyto Figs. 1, 2 and 4, a wheel ||4 ismounted for free rotation on reel shaft This Wheel is provided on itsperiphery with a series of numbers, shown in Fig. 1, spaced equallythereon to indicate the position of the wheel with respect to a zeroposition. These numbers in the embodiment shown are arranged torepresent a baseball batting average although it will be apparent thatthey could be used to indicate a score for any form of game. Atransparent panel is provided in the housing or casing (not shown) whichencloses the apparatus so as toexpose a portion of the periphery ofwheel ||l| and an index pointer H5 which indicates the score asrepresented by the displaced position of the wheel.

Mechanism is provided for displacing wheel ||4 from a starting or zeroposition in accordance with the position assumed by slides E32-81.Referring particularly to Fig. 4, immediately adjacent the inner hubportion of wheel H4, and rigid on shaft are a pair of oppositely toothedratchet wheels H6 and I1, the latter being in close frictionalengagement with the hub of wheel i4 so that normally the two ratchetwheels and wheel H4 turn together as a unit on shaft il. Wheel |4 ispositioned in accordance with thedisplaced positions assumed by slides82-81 through a slide bar ||8 (Fig. 3) which carries a lever H3, thelatter being fulcrumed at |2| (Fig. 1) on said bar. Lever l i3 moveswith slide bar 8, the free end thereof resting on the upper edge of abracket |22 (Fig. 4), the free end portion of said lever aifording asupport for a stepped arm |23 which is pivoted at |24 to a framesupport. Arm |23 is provided with six steps |25 and similarly slide bari8 is provided with six such steps 23, the steps on these memberscorresponding to the six control slides 82-81. A coil spring |21 (Fig.3) extending between slide bar ||8 and the frame urges said bar towardthe right, viewing Fig. 3, to hold said bar against the forward end ofthe lowermost of the slides 82-81. It will thus be apparent that thestepped bar |23 will fall from the position shown in Fig. 4 an amount.dependent upon the number of slides i12-81 which are retracted, thisbeing for the reason that lever ||8 which supports said step bar |23moves with slide bar ||8 and the latter in turn is retracted by coilspring |21 from the position shown in Fig. 3 an amount dependent uponthe number of slides which have been retracted through operation of thereels.

Continuing the reference to Fig. 4, the advance of wheel H4 iscontrolled by the movements of arm |23, the means for this purposecomprising: an arm |23 mounted for free rotation on shaft a pawl |28carried on the outer end of arm i 28 and normally held in engagementwith ratchet wheel H5 by a spring 3|; and a link |32 connected at itslower end to arm |23 and at its upper end to arm |28. It will be evidentthat the advance rotation imparted to wheel 4 by pawl |28 will dependupon the fall permitted of arm |23. In the embodiment shown theseadvances of wheel ||4 for each of the six steps on bar |23 are, inorder, 2, 4, 8, |2, I6 and 20, steps |25 being shaped to give thesedisplacements of said wheel. For example, if the three lowermost slidesv82-85 are retracted, arm |23 will fall a distance of three steps,thereby advancing wheel ||4 eight spaces from the starting position. Acoil spring |33 urges arm|23 against lever `||9. A second pawl |34,positioned on the outer end of arm |28, engages ratchet wheel ||1 toprevent overrun of wheel I4 when it is advanced by pawl |29. lArm |28 israised to return .pawl |29 to its initial driving position on ratchet||6 by means of an arm |35v (Figi 2) which is pivoted at |36 on a hub|31 which is rigid on main rock shaft 4|. Arm |35 is held in yieldingengagement with hub |31 by a coil spring |38 which urges said armagainst a stop |39 carried by said hub |31. When rock'shaft 4| is turnedto spin the reels, arm |35 is raised to bring a pin |4| against the freeend of arm |23, the latter being thus raised to return arm |28 and pawlv|29 to their normal driving position on ratchet wheel i6. Asrock shaft4| returns to normal position, arm |35 is lowered and the stepped arm|23 is free to fall an .amount determined by the position of lever H9. v

Means is provided for removing pawl |34 from ratchet wheel ||1 as arm|28 is returned to'normal position. This is accomplished by a lever |42,pivoted at |43 on arm |28. This lever is provided at one end with a pin|44 which rests in an inwardly grooved cam surface formed in an arm |45which projects laterally from' pawl |34. A spring |48, extending betweenarm |45-and the end of arm |28 holds pawl |34 against ratchet wheel i1.'Lever |42 is turned to raise pawl |34 by a vertically disposed arm |41,the upper end of which is pivoted to the frame at |48. A'curv'ed segmentportion |49 of arm |41 engages one end of lever |42. Arm |41 is actuatedin the initial turning of rock shaft 4 the lower end of said arm beingshoved laterally by a pin |5| (Fig. 2), carried by an arm |52, which isrigid with hub |31 on rock shaft i As armI |52 is raised pin 5| strikesand displaces arm |41 laterally to pivot lever |42, thereby freeing pawl|34 from ratchet wheel ||1, and allowing arm 28 to be raised intoposition for again actuating ratchet wheel I6.

As long as wheel ||4 is displaced fromI its zero or starting positionthe machine may be operated without inserting a coin. This action iseffected through a lever |53 (Figs. 1 and 2) which is of bell crankform, the forwardly extending arm |54 thereof (Fig. 2) being providedwith a hook which engages the upper end of coin trip lever 26. Thelaterally extending arm |55 (Fig. 1) of said lever |53 carries a lug |56which is engaged by a stop |51 (Fig. 4) carriedby wheel H4, said stopbeing so located on the wheel that when the latter is returned to thezero position said stop |51 will strike lug |55, thereby pivoting lever|53 to free arm |54 from coin trip lever 28. It will be evident thatwhen lever 26 is held by arm |54 the effect is the same as though a coinwere present in coin chute i8. As soon as wheel ||4 is ad vanced one ormore spaces, stop |51 is released from the free end of lever |53, thelatter being then pivoted by a spring |58 (Fig. 1) to hook arm |54 overcoin trip lever 26. Coin trip lever 26 is thus rendered inoperative solong as wheel 4 is displaced from its starting position, the machinebeing thus capacitated for free operations. v

Referringv particularly to Fig. 4, means is provided for returning wheel||4 one step toward its starting position for each operation of thecoin-V cntrolled operating mechanism.V An escapement |59, pivoted at I6|to the Vframe, engages the teeth of ratchet wheel II6 and permits thelatter, together with wheel II4, to move one step in a counter-clockwisedirection (viewing Fig. 4)

for each actuation of said escapement. Escapement |59 is rocked by anarm |62 (Fig. 2) rigidly connected through hub |31 to rock shaft 4|.When shaft 4I is turned to spin the reels arm |62 is raised and brushespast a spring held pawl |63 carried on the lower end of escapement |59,the pivoted movement of said pawl on the escapement being limited by astop |64.' As rock shaft 4| returns to inoperative position arm |62strikes pawl |63 on its downward stroke to actuate escapement |59.vWheel I|4 is then returned toward zero position one space per play tobring stop I51in step-by-step movement toward lever |56, the latterbeing actuated when the wheel reaches zero position to thereafterrequirethe insertion of a coin to operate the machine. A

pawl |60, pivoted at I6I, engages ratchet wheel- I1 to prevent advanceof Wheel I I4 when arm |28 is being returned to its actuating position,it being remembered that during this return movement pawl |34 is raisedto clear ratchet wheel I I1. Pawl I 60 -is actuated from arm |62, thusoperating in proper timed sequence with escapement |59.

In the'operation of the coin-controlled operating mechanism and the freeplay control therefor which has just been described, the score which aplayer attains as represented by the number of free plays which havebeen racked up on wheel H4, is indicated by the number on wheel ||4which appears opposite pointer I I5. A player who the coin chute by thesucceeding player. In the4 embodiment shown this resetting of wheel II4is accomplishedmanually, and the register which formsV the -subjectmatter of the present invention is operated by this'resetting means andserves to provide a permanent record of the total amount of returnmovement which is thus imparted to wheel I'I4,th'ereby serving to keep arecord of the net result of the operation of the apparatus asrepresented by the unused free plays, or a score based thereon.

' The manually operable resetting means is shownv in Figs. 2 and 5.Mounted for rotation with lwheelv I I4 on reel shaft II is a wheel |66,the circumferential rim portion for which is provided with a series ofspaced holes |61. Wheel |66 is rotated by turning a hand piece |68 (Fig.5) the latterbeing mounted on a shaft |69 which is journalled in abearing I1I, the latter being secured by screws |12 to the inner face ofthe casing wall |10. The inner end of shaft |69 carries a clutch |13having diagonally disposed laterally projecting cleats |14. Shaft |69and clutch |13 are normally held in the disengaged position shown by thesolid lines in Fig. 5 by a coil spring |15 which is retained on theshaft between hand piece |68 and a socket |16 formedin casing wall |10.

Referring particularly to Fig. 5, the perforated wheel |66 is turned ina clockwise direction, view- 2, by hand piece |68 and toothed wheel |11,the teeth |18 of which (Fig. 7) are spaced to engage the holes |61 inwheel |66. Wheel |11 is rigid on a shaft |19, the latter beingjournalled by means of a bearing I 8| in a frame piece |82. A ratchetwheel |83 is lxedly secured to shaft |19 through a collar |84, thelatter being pinned to said Shaft |19. Immediately adjacent ratchetwheel |83 on shaft |19 is a spur wheel |85 which drives a registerindicated generally by the numeral |86. Spur wheel |85 is mounted forfree rotation on shaft |19 through a hub |81. Fixedly secured to spurwheel |85 and arranged to turn with said wheel and hub |81 is a disc |88which is provided with diagonally disposed pins |89, the latter beingengaged by cleats |14 on clutch member |13 when the latter is pushedinwardly against the tension of spring |15. Spur wheel |85 carries apawl 19| (Fig. 6) which is held by a spring |92 in engagement with theteeth of ratchet wheel |83. A coil spring |93 (Fig. 5), confined on hub|81' between disc |88 and a washer |94, holds said hub |81 in closecontact with hub |84 on shaft |19.

The operation of the mechanism just described for resetting wheel |I4 isbriefly as follows: the operator pushes inwardly on hand piece |68causlng clutch member |13 to engage posts |89 carried by disc |88. vOnturning hand piece |68 in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 2, ratchetwheel |83 is turned by pawl |9I, and shaft |19, together with toothedwheel |11, are likewise turned. The teeth |18 of Wheel |11 engaging inthe holes |61 of wheel |66 turn the latter, together with wheel I I4, ina clockwise direction toward zero position.

Referring to Fig. 2, a pawl and ratchet connection is provided betweenWheel I I4 and reel shaft so that the resetting means returns said wheelto the starting position in regular step-by-step movements correspondingto the numbers carried on the periphery thereof. This connectioncomprises: an arm |95, extending between a pair of spokes of wheel II4,a pawl |96 pivoted on arm |95; and a ratchet wheel |91 rigid on reelshaft I I. When hand piece |68 is turned to reset Wheel I I4, as justdescribed, pawl |96 rides over the teeth ofl ratchet wheel- |91, theteeth of which correspond to the teeth on ratchet wheel I I6 (Fig. 4)thus permitting step-by-step return of wheel ||4 in accordance with thespacing of the numbers carried on the rim thereof. It will be noted thatduring'this yresetting wheel I I4 turns on reel shaft IIindependentlyvof ratchet wheels I I6, |I1 and |91, by reason of thefriction connection between said wheel II4 and ratchet wheel II1.

The register forming the subject matter of the present invention, ashereinbefore stated, is designed to recordthe total of the unused freeplays which in effect corresponds to the accumulated" totals ofthe'scores Vattained by successive operators of the apparatus. Thedetails of this register are shown in Fig. 5 to which reference is nowhad. The register, indicated generally by the numeral |86, embodies acounter which is carried in a casing I 98, the latter being supported ona frame piece |99.

form of counter which registers in numerical succession may be used. Thereading on the counter is shown through a transparent panel 20| (Fig. 1)it being understood, however, that thel complete register v|86 ispreferably enclosed within the casing -of the machine so that, thereading of the counter is not exposed to the operator. A ratchet wheel202 (Fig. 5) is carried by the counter shaft 203. Mounted for freerotation on counter shaft 203 is a spur wheel 264, the latter beingsecured to shaft 203 by a washer 205 carried on the end of The internalstructure of the counter is not shown inasmuch as any suitableV IEE.

Lio,

. apparent from Fig. 6 that counter shaft 203 will be turned to operatethe counter whenever a clockwise turning movement (viewing Fig. 2) isimparted to shaft |79 as a result of manual turning of the latterthrough hand piece |58. Therefore, the register will be operated toindicate the return movement which is given wheel 4 by hand piece |68,it being understood, of course, that the ratio of spur wheels |85 and2G13 is such as to effect a one notch or a one numeral turning of thecounting discs in the register each time wheel H4 is returned one steptoward the starting position. It will also be apparent that the register|86 is not operated by the automatic step-by-step backward turning whichis imparted to wheel l It! upon :each operation of the apparatus throughescape- .such return movement of wheel H4 because of he pawl and ratchetconnection between ratchet wheel |83 and spur wheel |85. Such automaticresetting of wheel l upon each play merely resuits in ratchet wheel |83turning in a counterclockwise direction, viewing Fig. 6, during whichmovement pawl |9| merely rides over the teeth thereof. Register I 86thus is operated to count up the unused free plays, or to measurea scoreCorresponding thereto, solely through the manually operated resettingmechanism. The total reading on the register thus indicates the netresults of the, operation of the machine since it adds up or tallies thetotal net score or unused free plays as measured by the return movementgiven wheel IM through the `manually operated resetting mechanism. n

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly aspermissible in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a game apparatus, the combination with a normally coin-controlledoperating mechanism, and a free play device, including a control elementadapted to be displaced by said operating mechanisrn from a normalstarting position and adavancedthrough a series of positions away fromthe starting position, and means controlled by said element for allowingfree plays of said operating mechanism in accordance with the extent ofdisplacement of said element from the starting position, of means forresetting said element from an ing mechanism from a normal startingposition and advanced through a series of positions away from thestarting position, and means controlled by said element for allowingfree plays of said operating mechanism in accordance with the extent ofdisplacement of said element from the starting position, of manuallyoperable means for resettingk said element from an advanced positionback to the starting position, and a register operated by said resettingmeans for recording the total number of unused free plays as measured bythe extent of return movement imparted to said element by successiveoperations of said resetting means.

3. In a game apparatuathe combination of ,an

normally coin-controlled operating mechanism, a movable member, meansactuated by said operating mechanism for displacing said member from anormal starting position and advancing the same through a series ofpositions away from the starting position, means controlled by saidmovable member for capacitating said operating mechanism for effectiveaction without the use of a coin thereinwhen said member is away fromthe starting position, thus allowing the operator a number of free playsdetermined in accordance with the extent of displacement of said movablemember from the starting position, means for resetting said movablemember from an advanced position back to the starting position, and aregister operated by said resetting means for recording the total numberof unused free plays as measured bythe amount of return movementimparted to saidl movable member by successive operations of saidresetting means.Y r

1,4. -Ivn a game apparatus, the combination of a normallycoin-controlled operating mechanism, va movable member,:means `actuatedby said operating mechanism for displacing said ymember by.

step movements froma normal Astarting position.

and advancing the saine throughl a series Yof positions away from. thevstarting position, means controlled by said movable .member forVVcapacitating said operating mechanism-foreffective action/without` theuse of a coin therein when said member isrfaway `from thestartingpositionv thus allowing the operatora number of free plays determined inaccordance with the extent of disv placement of said .movable memberfrom Vthe starting position, means for resetting vsaid movablefmemberfrom an advanced position. back to the starting position, means Aforcontrolling the resetting action to cause a step-by-step returncorresponding in reverse order to the step-by-step advance of saidmember and a register operated by said resetting means for recording thetotal numberV of unused free plays as measured by the number of stepr-eturn movements impartedto said movable lmember by successiveoperations of said resetting'means. i

5. In a game apparatus, the combination of a normally coin-controlledoperating mechanism, a free play control element adapted to be displacedby the operating mechanism from a starting position and advanced througha series of positions away from the starting position, means controlledby said element for rendering the operating mechanism operable withoutthe use of a coin when said element is away from the starting position,thus allowing the operator a numb-er of freel plays determined inaccordance with the extent of displacement of said element from thestarting position, means for resetting said element to the. startingposition, said resetting meansincluding a manually rotatableshaft havingdriving n# engagement with said control element, a register, and meanson said shaft for operating said register to record the number of unusedfree plays as measured by the extent of return movement imparted to saidcontrol element.

6. In a game apparatus, the combination of a normally coin-controlledoperating mechanism, a free play device, including a rotatable controlelement adapted to be turned by the operating mechanism from a normalstarting position and advanced through a series of positions removedtherefrom, means controlled by said element for allowing free operationsof said operating mechanism in accordance with the extent ofdisplacement of said element from the starting position, means forturning said element back to the starting position, and means operatedby said last mentioned means for recording the total number of freeoperations corresponding to the extent of return mov-ement imparted tosaid control element.

7. Ina game apparatus, the combination of a normally coin-controlledoperating mechanism, means for capacitating said operating mechanism forfree operation, said means including a movable control element adaptedto be displaced by the operating mechanism from a normal startingposition, means controlled by said element for limiting the number offree operations in accordance with the extent of displacement thereoffrom the starting position, means for moving said element back tostarting position, and a register operated by said last mentioned meansfor recording the total number of free operations corresponding to theextent of return movement imparted to said control element.

8. In a game apparatus, the combination of a normally coin-controlledoperating mechanism, means for capacitating said mechanism for freeoperation, said means including a rotatable control element adapted tobe turned by the operating mechanism from a normal starting position,means controlled by said element for limiting the number of freeoperations in accordance with the extent of displacement thereof fromthe starting position, means for turning said element back to thestarting position, and a register operated by said last mentioned meansfor recording the number of free operations corresponding to the extentof return movement imparted to said control element.

9. In a game apparatus, the combination of normally coin-controlledoperating mechanism, free play mechanism, including a control elementadapted to be displaced by said operating mechanism from a normalstarting position through a series of positions removed therefrom, meanscontrolled by said element for allowing free plays of the operatingmechanism in accordance with u the extent of displacement of saidelement from the starting position, means including a manually rotatableshaft operatively connected with said element for returning the latterto the starting position, a register, and means on said shaft foroperating said register to record the number of free plays allowed asmeasured by the extent of return movement imparted to said controlelement.

FRED L. MILLS.

